More fish deaths likely in impending hot weather

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has warned of more mass fish deaths in the central coastal area of Việt Nam due to the impending hot weather.– Photo danviet.vn

HÀ NỘI (VNS) – The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has warned of more mass fish deaths in the central coastal area of Việt Nam due to the impending hot weather.

The increase in the temperature of seawater near the shore will result in the growth of noxious seaweed, spread of disease and toxic substances contained in the water. Additionally, the danger of reduced oxygen in deep-water layers, will result in the fish dying en masse.

Fish have been dying at Kỳ Anh Town in central Hà Tĩnh Province since early this month, and the Formosa Industrial Zone and Vũng Áng 1 Thermopower Plant, which are located nearby, have been blamed for discharging untreated wastewater into the sea.

The ministry has sent documents to all people’s committees of coastal cities and provinces, asking them to continuously implement urgent measures to prevent and reduce harmful effects of pollutants that are resulting in the death of the fish.

The ministry asked provincial and city authorities to collect and treat waste in the coastal areas, and stop all forms of garbage from being thrown into the river and coastal areas.

To address the problem, the ministry has asked the authorised agencies to inspect the wastewater treatment systems and environmental protection works of all processing factories and companies in coastal areas.

Violations must be punished in a timely manner, the ministry document said.

Investigations to find the cause of the deaths in central Hà Tĩnh Province are still underway. The ministry has asked people’s committees of Hà Tĩnh and three neighbouring coastal provinces of Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế to initiate urgent steps to help fishermen control the damage and clean coastal environment in areas where the deaths occurred.

Provincial authorities have disseminated information about the real situation and latest reports to local fishermen.

The ministry has asked provincial people’s committees to inform them if they discover any unusual phenomena in the sea.—VNS